Apparatus for opening oysters.



APPARATUS FOR 0mm;

APPLICATION FILED FEBF7, 191U.

- 1,018,169. l efuglitd 'r-enizu; 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH Cm. WASHINGTON. D. c.

J. DANON. APPARATUS FOR ommm OYSTERS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1910.

1,018,169. Patented Feb. 20,- 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA I LANOGRAPH C0.,WASHINGTDN, D. c.

JEAN DANON, 0F LE RAINCY, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR OPENING OYSTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Application filed February 7, 1910. Serial No. 542,529.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN DANON, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at 9 Alle de Villemomble, Le Raincy, Seine et Oise, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Opening Oysters, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for opening oysters which enables that operation to be effected very easily, very quickly and without any danger of injury being caused as frequently occurs with the methods employed hitherto.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of constructing the apparatus which constitutes the subject matter of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section, Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a plan.

As will be seen from the drawings the apparatus comprises substantially a frame 1 which is fixed by screws to a table 2. On the top of this frame two jaws 3, 4, are arranged, one jaw 3 being fixed, the other 4 movable. The edges of the jaws are curved and serrated as shown in Fig. 3 and a certain amount of free space is left between them.

The movable jaw 4 is mounted to slide in a horizontal plane, between guides 5 and is pulled toward the fixed jaw by springs 14. A lever 6 pivoted at 7 to the frame is connected with the movable jaw by a slot 8 formed in the lever 6 and a pin 9 fixed to the jaw 4 so that by operating the lever the jaw 4 can be moved away from the jaw 3 against the action of the springs 14. A handle 10 mounted on the free end of the lever 6 serves for operating it.

Between the jaws 3 and 4 the oyster to be opened is held. The action of the jaws 3 and 4 is supplemented by that of the rods 11. The ends of the jaws are preferably roughened as by serrations. Said rods 11 are mounted on the jaws and pushed toward the oyster by the springs 12.

The movable jaw 4 is provided at each end on the under side with lugs 13 which run through the frame in slots formed for that purpose. To these lugs 13 the springs 14 are attached the other ends of these springs being fixed in screw threaded hooks 15 that enter holes in plates 16 fixed to the frame. Winged nuts 17 are screwed on to the screw rods 15 and bear against the part 16 of the frame. Thus the springs 14 may be stretched more or less.

Two yielding plates 18 are placed between the jaws under the upper table of the frame and are secured to the frame by rivets or any other suitable means (not shown). They assist in holding the oyster.

On the right side of the apparatus the knife 19 employed for opening the oyster is arranged. This knife can be moved in two ways: the one being in a horizontal direction, the other in a vertical plane. The knife 19 is mounted on the end of a rod 20. This rod slides in a guide 21. On the end opposite the knife the rod 20 has a pin 22 which engages in a slot-23 formed in an operating lever 24 which is pivoted at 25 to the bracket or support 26 that likewise carries the guide 21. This support 26 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 27 carried by pillar supports 28 mounted on springs 29. Finally the arm 26 of the support 26 bears against the plate spring 30 fixed to the frame. It will thus be seen that the lmife 19, can be moved as indicated by the arrow f when the lever 24 is turned to the left around the point 25. The rod 20 carrying the knife then slides in the guide 21. On the other hand by applying downward pressure to the operating lever 24 the whole lever arrangement, the knife carrier rod and the support 26 are turned around the shaft 27. Thus the point of the knife is raised. If the lever be released the springs 29 and 30 return the whole device to the horizontal position shown in the drawings.

The action of the apparatus is thus easily understood. For the purpose of opening an oyster the movable jaw is first moved away fromthe fixed jaw by means of the lever 6. The rods 11 of the movable jaw 4 of course follow the latter in its movement. The oyster is then placed between the jaws and the movable jaw is allowed to move up again under the action of its springs 14. The oyster is thus firmly held in its position. The lever 24 is then pulled horizontally from right to left and the oyster is opened. The end of the knife is raised by hearing on the said lever 24 and the upper shell of the oyster is detached. All that remains is to return the knife to the position shown in the figures and to replace the open oyster by another which is intact, the movable jaw being moved away by means of the lever 6.

The apparatus is completed by the handle 31 fixed to the end of a plate spring 32 and furnished with a knob 33. This handle is employed in the case of very flat oysters such as Marennes oysters. It can be used for holding them while they are being opened.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an oyster-opening device, the combination of a frame, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw on said frame spring-pressed toward said fixed jaw, means for operating said movable jaw against the spring pressure, and a plurality of spring-pressed rods arranged in juxtaposition to said jaws to engage the oyster.

2. In an oyster-opening device, the combination of a frame, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw on said frame spring-pressed toward said fixed jaw, means for operating said movable jaw against the spring pressure, and a plurality of springpressed rods arranged beneath said aws to engage the oyster.

3. In an oyster-opening device, the combination of a frame, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw on said frame spring-pressed toward said fixed jaw, means for operating said movable jaw against the spring pressure, a plurality of spring-pressed rods arranged beneath said fixed jaw, and a plurality of knife mounted upon said device for opening the oyster, a bearing for said knife comprising a support and a spring-pressed vertically-yielding member on which said support is mounted, and a handle connected to said knife and pivoted to said support.

6. In an oyster-opening device, the combination of means for holding the oyster, a knife mounted on said device for opening the oyster, a bearing for said knife comprising a support and a spring-pressed horizontally.

arranged shaft on which said support is mounted, and a handle for said knife.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEAN DANON. Witnesses:

DoUMri CAsALoNeA, MIGUEL FEnoLo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

